There was also plenty of fun-filled activities for children to take part in, including a football shoot-out and a bouncy castle.

Station manager Roy Reynolds said: “We’ve invited the community into the fire station to have a look around and engage with the public. We let them see the equipment, look at the fire engines and showing them what we do in our job as well as giving them fire safety demonstrations.

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“We don’t just respond to fire any more, we attend water rescues and road collisions and other things, too, and it’s about showing the public what the service does for them. It’s also subliminally teaching them while they’re here, while making it fun.”

Charities were also at the event, educating the public on what the associations do and raising vital funds.

Watch manager Chris Timons, who has been in the fire service for 13 years, said the open days always attracted a lot of people.

“It’s great for children,” he said. “It’s about giving fire safety messages but making it an enjoyable experience, even if people only take away one thing from it.”

Nottingham Road fire station held an open day (Image: Alex Cantrill-Jones / ACJ Media)

Denise Vernon, from Derby, was with her grandson Joe Blackshields at the event.

She said it was her first time at an open day and thought it was something different for children to experience and a good way for people to learn about fire safety.

Meanwhile, Jennie Melbon, 37, and her son Jake Day, five, from Borrowash, were driving past Nottingham Road when they saw the open day so decided to pop in.

“There seems to be lots to do,” she said. “The kids always love a go on the bouncy castle.”

Dexter, the fire dog, was also at the event and attracted lots of attention from the public who were keen to pet him and find out exactly how he can help in a fire investigation.